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The Kellogg Community College choral program celebrates its 58th anniversary with a performance of Haydn’s masterpiece, the Lord Nelson Mass.

THE WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE!

The Choral Union of Kellogg Community College will present two performances of its annual “Singing in the Spring” choral concert. First presentation is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at 7:30pm. This presentation will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Coldwater, loca…ted at 52 Marshall St, Coldwater, MI 49036. The chorus’s second presentation will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at Battle Creek’s First Presbyterian Church, located at 111 Capital Ave. NE.

Dr. Gerald Blanchard, professor of vocal music at KCC and director of the program, said the group of 43 singers and a 14 piece chamber orchestra performing at the concert will celebrate the choir’s 58 year history by presenting one of the great choral master pieces from the classical era, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. Besides the chorus, the piece will also feature four professional soloists; Betty Picard (soprano), Jennifer Brenneman (mezzo-soprano), Mark Wells (tenor) and Joel Snyder (baritone) all of which will be accompanied by the Haydn Festival Chamber Orchestra. Our special guest ensemble will be Ars Vove Vocal Ensemble.

The KCC Choral Union is made up of performers from KCC’s three residential choirs, including the Kellogg Singers, the Branch County Community Chorus and the Concentus Vocal Ensemble, which together perform a major concert each year in the fall and in the spring.

This year’s concert will serve as a fundraiser for the group’s 2016 East coast concert tour, which will include performances at NYC’s prestigious Carnegie Hall where the choir will be in residency for four days working with the internationally recognized composer Jacqueline Butler Hairston. In addition to the Carnegie Hall presentation, the choir will give performances in Philadelphia (PA) and in Washington D.C

Blanchard said the fundraising part of the event will consist of a free will offering.

“All the funds will go to help support the choral program, in particular our trip,” he said, adding that any funds collected above what is needed for the group’s concert tour will be saved for future special events and tours.

This “Singing in the Spring” event – marks the tenth year of the popular spring concert and follows last year’s presentation of Cathedral Classics. Blanchard said he was pleased with the way the community came out for the concert last year and he would like to see a similar show of support on the 12th.

“Every dime that we raise helps defray costs for our students, and on top of that it will help support our upcoming initiatives,” he said. “We’re doing some great music.”